18th Dye

18th Dye may have hailed from Europe, but the group reveled in a distinctly American brand of indie rock (an almost pop melodicism married to an aggressive guitar attack) that owed a debt to such forebears as Sonic Youth, the Pixies, and Nirvana. Fittingly, the group scored an American distribution deal with Matador Records after American indie darlings Yo La Tengo, who are on the label, championed 18th Dye by dropping off a tape at the offices. The Berlin, Germany-based group consisted of German singer/guitarist Sebastian Büttrich, Danish drummer Piet Bendtsen, and Danish-German singer/bassist Heike Rädeker. The group released its drone-heavy, fuzzed-out debut, Done, in 1994. Chicago producer Iain Burgess (Naked Raygun, Ministry, Big Black) helped out on the effort. The less-produced six-song EP Crayon followed. In 1995, 18th Dye recruited Steve Albini (Nirvana, the Breeders, PJ Harvey) to record their sophomore LP, Tribute to a Bus. The effort featured a more aggressive, energetic approach than Done. In 1999, after three "goodbye" shows in Berlin, London, and Copenhagen, 18th Dye called it quits. Subsequently, Büttrich and Bendtsen formed a group called Kikkert, while Rädeker moved on to Evonike. Nearly a decade passed before the trio re-formed for a few live dates. With the band successful in its reunion shows, Crunchy Frog caught wind of the new buzz and offered 18th Dye a record deal. The group returned the favor by delivering the label its fourth album, Amorine Queen, which was released in May of 2008.

from Wikipedia:

18th Dye was a Berlin-based German/Danish noise rock band formed in 1992 by German Sebastian Büttrich (vocals, guitar), Danish-German Heike Rädeker (vocals, bass) and Dane Piet Bendtsen (drums). They broke up in 1999 after 2 albums and an EP, but reformed in 2005. A third album "Amorine Queen" was released in 2008 but they split up again in 2009.

Biography

Drone-heavy, fuzzed out debut LP Done, produced by Iain Burgess (Naked Raygun, Ministry, Big Black), was released in Germany in 1992 before the band gained a recording and distribution deal with US Independent label Matador Records in 1994, having been championed by Yo La Tengo. The self-produced six song EP Crayon followed in 1994.

In 1995, 18th Dye moved to Danish label Cloudland Records and recorded their second album, Tribute to a Bus, recorded by Steve Albini in Nayant La Gracoyere, France. More dynamic and diverse than previous recordings, its blend of noise and melody suggest influences such as Sonic Youth, The Wedding Present and Wire. It is characterised by oblique English-as-second-language, maths based lyrics.

The band recorded three Peel sessions: in July 1994, March 1995 and February 1999. They broke up in 1999 with Büttrich and Bendtsen going on to form Kikkert and later Test, while Rädeker has played with the bands Evonike and Wuhling. They reformed in the summer of 2005 and have begun to debut new songs at recent shows around Europe. In November 2007, 18th Dye signed a new recording contract with Danish-based record label Crunchy Frog Records (The Raveonettes, Junior Senior, Heavy Trash, PowerSolo, The Naked, epo-555).

In 2008, a third album Amorine Queen was released and the band toured the USA before breaking up again in 2009. A press statement said of the split "It is not possible for us to compose, create and act as a band any more. We have decided to stop the band at this point."